U.S. Strikes Iranian Oil Tankers in Retaliation for Missile Attempts on Navy Warship

U.S. Central Command said forces destroyed multiple Iranian oil tankers after the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps launched ballistic-missile attacks on a U.S. Navy warship over two days. The warship evaded the attacks, continued its patrol and no American personnel were harmed. Crews of the targeted vessels were ordered to abandon ship before the tankers were rendered inoperable. The strikes hit tankers in the Gulf of Oman near Kharg Island and off Jask in the Strait of Hormuz.

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The exchange occurs amid a war that began more than six months ago, when the United States and its allies started a campaign against Iran’s nuclear program and regional activities. The United States has maintained a naval blockade of Iranian ports and escorts commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz, which previously carried about one-fifth of global oil shipments. Iran has threatened to establish an “exclusion zone” in the strait and to target ships in neighboring Gulf states that host U.S. forces.

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• Tankers reported destroyed:

NBC News

*U.S. Central Command listed five vessels – Kivik, Charminar, Horizon 1, Riesco and Derya.*

Associated Press

*Other U.S. statements identified three vessels – M/T Downy, M/T Stark 1 and M/T Kylo.*

U.S. Strikes Three Iranian Tankers as Fighting Turns ‘Tanker for Tanker’

• Oil flow: Prior to the war roughly 20 % of world oil passed through the strait; current estimates place daily flows at about 7 million barrels, down from pre-war levels of roughly 20 million barrels.

The Independent

• Market impact: Brent crude futures rose near $100 a barrel following the strikes, peaking at $99.46 on Tuesday.

Bloomberg

U.S. officials emphasized the successful evasion of the warship and the lack of U.S. casualties. Iran’s IRGC, quoted by state broadcaster IRIB, warned crews of oil tankers in Kuwaiti and Bahraini ports to evacuate, stating those vessels “will be targeted.” Iranian officials also signaled plans to announce a new exclusion zone around the Strait of Hormuz.

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Sources differ on the number and identity of the tankers hit. Some reports list five vessels (Kivik, Charminar, Horizon 1, Riesco, Derya), while others cite three (Downy, Stark 1, Kylo). Damage assessments remain unclear, and no independent verification of the exact locations or crew status has been provided. The extent to which the strikes have altered Iran’s oil-export capacity is not yet quantified.

Associated Press

• “The U.S. warship successfully evaded the attempted Iranian attacks and continued to patrol regional waters. No American personnel were harmed,” — U.S. Central Command

Associated Press

• “CENTCOM forces destroyed five Iranian crude oil carriers, Sept. 8, after the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) targeted a U.S. Navy warship with ballistic missiles twice over the past two days,” — U.S. Central Command

NBC News

• “American forces directed the crews to abandon ship before the vessels were struck and rendered inoperable,” — CENTCOM

NBC News